Digital Commons Network^™

Synthetic Strategies Toward The Development Of Stable Gold-Based Anticancer Agents And Their Mechanistic Insight, Adedamola Arojojoye

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Despite notable advancements in the design and synthesis of novel chemotherapeutic drugs, cancer continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States. Metallodrugs, especially Au complexes, have played a prominent role in the search for the next generation of chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, I report on the synthetic strategies towards the rational design of stable Au (Au)-based agents, study their reactivity in biological environment, and offer insights into the cytotoxic mechanism of action in cancer. Chemotherapeutic Au compounds exist mainly in +I or +III oxidation states. Repurposing of the Au(I) FDA approved auranofin for the treatment of diseases …

Synthesis, Functionalization, And Application Of Polymeric Membrane Blends Of Polysulfone, Poly-Ether Ether-Ketone, And Natural Fiber Additive Biochar For Optimal Water Treatment., Abelline Katusiime Fionah

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

According to the Center for disease control (CDC), an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million persons die from waterborne diseases annually. The majority of individuals dying from diseases resulting from unsafe drinking water, such as diarrhea and gastroenteritis, are children. This has in turn created a global water crisis. Different methods have been developed to treat contaminated water in response to the global water crisis such as adsorption, filtration, ozonolysis, catalysis, etc. Of the methods available, filtration via polymeric membranes has been one of the most successfully applied. A membrane is a thin semi-permeable barrier (often made of a polymer) used …

Automation Of Productive Machinery. Bases For An Innovative Business Model, Carlos Guillermo Hernández-Cenzano, Angel Contreras-Cruz, Eduardo Humada-Tello

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nowadays, some laboratories perform elastic properties tests for concrete or rock cores using equipment manufactured 50 years ago. The original data collection procedure uses analog and manual recordings, which can cause inaccuracies in the measurements taken during these trials The process is tedious and updated since each trial's measurement data is recorded manually. In this context, this study systematizes the process and proposes an automated data acquisition and recording system for this type of equipment, followed by a case study presenting a rock compression test.

Examining Twitter As A Learning Tool On Saudi Female Undergraduate Student Achievement And Attitudes: A Mixed-Methods Study, Hend Bamalan

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Today’s learners commonly belong to a generation that grew up surrounded by using technological devices in classrooms, such as smartphones, laptops, iPads, or other tools – making them digital natives. To meet the nature of digital natives’ learning needs, the focus of educational institutions has been on adapting their instructional practices to align with the new realities. In Saudi Arabia, higher education institutions were encouraged to include more instructional technology to align with the nature of digital natives and improve students’ academic performance and engagement. The use of Twitter as a learning tool in higher education is a new educational …

Turnover Intention Of Women Leaders: The Role Of Leader Identity Development, Haleigh Broucher

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Women’s turnover rate within leadership positions exceed that of men, but the literature fails to outline the specific contexts and antecedents of such gender differences in turnover. Drawing from the leader identity literature, I outline how gender differences in leader identity strength can help illuminate why we see higher turnover intention of women in leadership positions. Given that a strong leader identity has shown to lower turnover intention, I investigate how the leader identity development process unfolds differently for women (compared to men). Leader identity development occurs through the exchange of leader behavior asserting authority (i.e., leader claims) and follower …

Longevity,Feeding Behavior, And Egg Production Of Adult House Flies (Musca Domestica) Provided With Potential Farm Foods, Anna Elise Grimenstein

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

House flies (Musca domestica) are cosmopolitan pests to both humans and livestock, and they can vector many diseases. House flies are especially associated with livestock facilities, as adult flies lay eggs in rotting organic matter such as manure. While it is understood that the diet an adult fly receives can affect biological parameters such as longevity and egg production, not much research has been done to address foods that are accessible to house flies in their natural habitat. The present study examined the longevity, feeding behavior, and egg production rates of adult house flies given different foods they would have …

Helicopter Teaching From The Student Perspective: An Application Of Rhetorical And Relational Goals Theory, Denise Victoria Lee

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Research on helicopter teaching from an instructor’s perspective has noted thatimplementing this type of teaching style comes with the potential harm to student learning and the value of education. Prior research, however, has focused on the instructor perspective of helicopter teaching. The purpose of the current study was to explore the student perspective of helicopter teaching behaviors through the lens of rhetorical and relational goals theory. Participants (N = 121) evaluated 17 helicopter teaching behaviors for frequency, negativity, clarity, caring, and positive impact on learning. Results indicated that students perceived helicopter teaching behaviors as strategies that enhanced their learning (i.e., …

Why Terrorism Varies In Indonesia, Titik Firawati

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation studies when, why, and how local religious conflicts escalate to campaigns of terrorist violence. To do so, I examine two most-similar cases in Indonesia: Ambon and Poso. Each experienced significant local conflict between Christians and Muslims in the early 2000s. But while a peace treaty in Ambon in 2002 was largely successful, a similar treaty in Poso failed, and violence actually escalated into an organized campaign of terrorism against Christians. To understand why violence escalated to terrorism in one case, but not the other, I conducted six months of field research, including 98 interviews with original interviews with …

Assessing The Relationship Between Neighborhood Inequality And Stem Employment For Underrepresented Minorities With Stem Degrees, Brian P. Hurley

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess whether there is a relationship between neighborhood inequality in which underrepresented minorities (URMs) with STEM degrees reside and their employment in STEM fields. The current study deploys an Intersectional Theory (IT) research framework and Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice to identify the influence of neighborhood capital on successful matriculation through the STEM pipeline as well as variables that elucidate latent inequities in the STEM pipeline which lead to unequal outcomes for URMs. Generalized Linear Multilevel Models (GLMMs) are used to answer the research questions where the individual variables of gender, race, and age …

Enhancing Usability In Aviation: Insights From User Experience Studies, Jennifer Ann Howard

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The modern aviation industry is consistently embracing technological advancements to improve safety, efficiency, and training practices. Three user experience studies were conducted to examine the usability aspects of two digital components within aviation: the Federal Aviation Administration website and virtual reality head-mounted displays for aviation training.

The Federal Aviation Administration website serves as a central hub for aviation-related information, resources, and regulations for all domestic civil or military air operations within U.S. airspace. Usability is essential to ensure easy access to valuable data for aviation professionals, enthusiasts, and the public. Results from the experiences of ten pilots executing five tasks …

Netflix As A Transverse Transnational Media In Southeast Asia: Exploring The Philippine Context, Lady Aileen Ambion Orsal

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines how Netflix as a transnational Internet TV disrupted the media flow in Southeast Asia. As subscription to streaming platforms grew exponentially, the limited linear flow of contents in traditional TV was transformed into a more personalized viewing experience. Consumers binge-watching on a subscription video on demand service were given the agency to view diverse contents at a time and on a gadget they prefer while also being offered recommendations from the platform’s curated list. As Netflix expanded to over 190 countries around the world, it has employed localization strategies to provide culturally authentic contents through co-production with …

Amazing Or Awful? The Role Of Message Frames In Expectancy-Value Based Weight Management Intentions, Xuan Qian

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effective message frames in improving individuals’ weight management intentions. Focus on gain-framed and loss-framed messages, their interactions with expectancy and value were unveiled in both weight loss and weight loss maintenance conditions. A 2 (message frames: gain-framed vs. loss-framed) x 2 (weight management: weight loss vs. weight loss maintenance) online experiment (N = 249) was conducted. Participants were asked about their weight management experiences, read manipulated messages, and answered questions about perceived expectancies and values toward future behaviors. Results showed that gain-framed messages are more effective in arousing individuals’ intentions and values in both weight loss …

The Influence Of Media Usage On The Outcome Of Social Movement Campaigns In Southeast Asia, Rothsethamony Seng

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Does the use of media strategies help social movements or mass protest movements in Southeast Asia achieve their goals? The prominent study in this area argues that social media, in particular, has done more harm than good for grassroots movements. Tufekci (2017) argues that social media provides little help compared to the regime. I argue that social media helps the movement through three important areas, including (1) amplifying the messages of the movements to shape public opinions and counter propaganda and misleading information from the government, (2) facilitating and mobilizing protestors to coordinate virtual or physical protests, sustaining the momentum, …

International Graduate Student Challenges And Self-Efficacy When Studying In The United States, Kawthar Alfarhan

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examined challenges international graduate students face in the United States regarding English language skills, cultural adaptation, and impacts on their academic self-efficacy. Ten international students from different countries were interviewed using a qualitative research method. The interviews explored international graduate students’ experiences after completing at least one year at the university. Specific focus areas included difficulties faced with English proficiency and cultural adaptation, how students described their self-efficacy in managing these challenges, the impacts on their academic performance, and strategies to support their self-efficacy.

The findings showed that self-efficacy as well as encouragement from peers and faculty helped …

Essays On Institutions And Business Performance In A Less-Developed Economy, Obinna Franklin Ezeibekwe

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The dissertation comprises three essays that collectively contribute novel insights into the impact of institutional and regulatory factors on firm performance in Nigeria.

The first essay presents the first empirical assessment of the causal heterogeneous effects of competition from informal firms on the revenue of Nigerian formal firms using quantile regression, causal mediation analysis, and non-parametric preprocessing matching. The theoretical framework mathematically depicts how informality determines formal firm revenue by influencing prices.

In the second essay, I provide the first empirical assessment of the causal impact of bureaucratic corruption on firms' financial constraints in Nigeria by calculating treatment effects using …

Domesticating Luxury: A Comparative Study Of Moche Fineware Distribution Within The Moche Valleys, Annalisa Fallon Amber

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examines 188 vessels from the Moche Valley in northern Peru that are listed in the Museo Larco online collection, to determine the distribution of Moche bulk luxury items like ceramics from urban centers to surrounding towns and rural communities. For the study, "bulk luxury" refers to the widespread availability of elite goods that are produced in large quantities but retain a sense of high status among a wide range of people. These items commonly appear in the form of bottle neck sculptural stirrup handle vessels. This definition serves as a heuristic tool to explore the role of these …

Modern-Day Storyliving In Immersive Learning Environments: The Impact Of Cinematic Virtual Reality On Adolescents’ Empathy And Sympathy, Andrea Armour Trudeau

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

With virtual reality (VR) tools becoming increasingly prevalent in K-12 schools today, educators now possess the means to transport students to digitally simulated times and places without ever leaving the classroom. However, current application of this experiential technology is in its nascent stage and subsequent research is often limited to science- and engineering-related courses at the secondary level. Moreover, a notable gap exists in studies exploring the effects of storyliving in VR specifically for K-12 students with present research focusing on adult participants. Thus, this comprehensive research study investigated the impact of cinematic virtual reality (CVR) on seventh-grade students’ empathic …

Experiences Of Discrimination, Covid-19 Stress, And Racial Trauma In College Students, Jennifer Valentine

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Extant literature has illustrated the devastating effects of repeated exposure to discriminatory events on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), leading to the development of a psychological injury, known as racial trauma. Research has suggested that racial trauma can sensitize individuals to future stressors, potentially placing marginalized populations at risk of developing adverse mental health outcomes due to the pervasive effects of systemic racism. While the literature on racial trauma is expanding, there remains a paucity of research examining racial trauma in the context of inequity in communities of color, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, despite …

Latine Caregiver Perspectives Of Their Child’S Speech And Language Services, Marisol Perez

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Early Intervention (EI) speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are mandated to provide culturally responsive services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) clients. However, little is known about Latine caregivers’ perspectives on receiving these services. The purpose of this study was to examine Latine caregivers’ perspectives on their child’s speech and language services by answering the following research questions: 1) How do intrinsic factors relate to Latine caregiver satisfaction with their family’s speech and language services? 2) Does perception of clinician cultural sensitivity relate to Latine caregiver satisfaction with speech and language services? 3) What do Latine caregivers perceive as determinants (facilitators and …

The Expansion Of Social Assistance Programs: The Politics Of Development In Bangladesh, Sumaya Tamanna

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Why do authoritarian regimes in the global south expand social assistance programs when electoral competition is absent? What are the driving factors behind their willingness to adopt and expand pro-poor social assistance programs? To answer this question in the context of Bangladesh, I did a secondary qualitative analysis to unfold the puzzle of social assistance expansion in Bangladesh. I explored existing literature and tested those in the case of Bangladesh by analyzing existing literature on Bangladesh, as well as data and documents in order to solve the puzzle. I find that, even though electoral competition is absent, the current regime …

An Environmental Isolate Of Pseudomonas, 20ei1, Reduces Aspergillus Flavus Growth In An Iron-Dependent Manner Affecting The Expression Of Numerous Genes, Elizabeth Marion Wyman

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that infects oilseed crops worldwide. When colonizing the plants, it produces mycotoxins, including carcinogenic compounds such as aflatoxins. Mycotoxin contamination results in an important economic and health impact. The design of new strategies to control A. flavus colonization and mycotoxin contamination is paramount. In this study, we identified a promising new isolate of Pseudomonas spp., 20EI1, and observed that it is able to reduce the growth of A. flavus AF70. Furthermore, we determined that this growth inhibition is iron-dependent. To further elucidate the nature of this bacterial-fungus interaction, we performed metabolomics and transcriptomics …

The Gentle Powers: The Importance Of Unmarried Women In The Middlebrow Novels Of Interwar Britain, Caitriona Terry

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

My dissertation explores the rise of the women’s middlebrow novel in interwar Britain and the use of unmarried women as heroines. During a time of extreme gender imbalance, female middlebrow authors often took up spinsters, who were treated as pitiable and superfluous by both the literary establishment and the press, and turned them into everywomen who could speak directly to the changing and uncertain times their readers were struggling with.

Although the middlebrow was more of a loose grouping of authors than an intentional artistic or intellectual movement, by surveying books under this umbrella that focused on unmarried women and …

Journalists’ Perception Of Artificial Intelligence: The Case Of Nigerian Newsrooms, Amaka Peace Onebunne

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Technological advancements have always influenced how news is sourced, produced, and disseminated. The emergence of AI technology fundamentally repositions human journalists, requiring them to work with non-human agents. Typically, the Global North leads in adopting such technologies, resulting in unequal technological diffusion and research between the Global North and South. This research thus takes a less-traveled path within a portion of the global south to understand journalists’ views of Artificial Intelligence in Nigerian newsrooms and how geographical and cultural factors influence AI usage. Grounded in the human-machine communication framework, semi-structured interviews with 18 Nigerian journalists revealed a double-edged view of …

(Agri)Cultural Activism: The Role Of Pgaz K’Nyau Karen Youth In Sustaining Rotational Farming In Thailand, Mitchell Rigert

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The focus of this thesis is to shed light on youth group activism in an Indigenous Pgaz k’Nyau Karen community in Thailand. These youth are seeking rights and recognition to sustain their subsistence-based practice of swidden agriculture in the context of state forest policy officially banning such practices. I draw on over two months of multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork in Thailand. I argue that the youth use a variety of strategies to render swidden agriculture visible and legible to the state and public in the interest of sustaining the practice, which they see as an essential part of their communal identity. …

Incarcerated To Educated: The On-Campus Experiences Of College Students Post Incarceration, Taylor Comer

Masters Theses

As reentry rates continue to climb in the United States, more individuals with felony convictions on their criminal records will be looking to obtain post-secondary education to make themselves more marketable in the workforce. The purpose of this narrative study was to examine the experiences of three individuals that pursued higher education after being released from prison. It was determined that the criminality of these individuals had minimal impact on their experiences in higher education, and that there are other components of their identity that have a heavier influence on their likelihood of success. The other components of their identities …

Investigating Sleep Education Criteria In Illinois Public Schools And Its Alignment With Evidence-Based Practices, Bayleigh T. Pasley

Masters Theses

The purpose of the current study was to examine high school health curricula regarding sleep prevention and intervention practices and whether instructional content aligned with best practice for this age group. Specifically, the Primary Investigator and her thesis chair developed the Sleep Education and Preventative Practices Checklist/Questionnaire (SEPPC and SEPPQ) as tools to evaluate the sleep content covered in different public high schools across Illinois. The SEPPC and SEPPQ were identical in that they contained 17 different items which looked at different sleep topics reviewed by current literature. The SEPPC/Q contained two main topics: adolescent sleep knowledge (11 topics/items) and …

The Effect Of School Uniforms On High School Students’ Feelings About School And Their Communities, Maggie Vavrik

Masters Theses

What you wear can feel like a defining aspect of who you are as a person. For high schoolers especially, how they look on the outside, can affect other factors such as their sense of belonging and safety both within their school and their community. In this study, I conducted focus groups at a high school which requires uniforms to be worn. Through the focus groups, I was able to learn how wearing a uniform impacted them on a daily basis. During the study I was also able to observe at the school for a day and note the trends …

The Role Of Study Abroad Directors In The Internationalization Of Higher Education, Alexandra Tserenova

Masters Theses

This study looks at the preparation and job description for those serving as directors of study abroad on the college campus. For this study three professionals who work in director positions were interviewed as well as their job descriptions were analyzed to determine what the expectations are for those in these positions. Study abroad professionals engage with students, faculty, external agencies, and other educational institutions worldwide. They are required to collaborate with many different constituents in the areas of program development, recruitment, risk management, program implementation, as well as pre- and post-departure orientations.

Exploring A Medicinal Strain Of White-Rot Fungus For Biofuel Applications, Kortney L. Lucius

Masters Theses

The major limitation to producing biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, such as miscanthus straw, is the difficulty in accessing fermentable carbohydrates encased in lignin. Traditional methods for separating lignin are economically and environmentally costly. Biological pretreatment using white-rot fungi, such as Trametes versicolor, has been demonstrated to potentially reduce the need for harsh chemical and physical pretreatment methods. Despite these efforts, the process of converting lignocellulose to ethanol remains financially challenging. To explore a potential co-product for the process, this study evaluated the efficacy of T. versicolor strain CM-101, known for producing the valuable medicinal macromolecule polysaccharide-K (PSK), as a …

Effective Communication Strategy During Crisis: A Case Of The 2010 Toyota Recall Crisis, Masud Mensah

Masters Theses

Crisis communication is an integral part of public relations and organizational management at large involving the timely and strategic sharing of information during a crisis or emergency. Its primary purpose is to ensure that organizations effectively manage and minimize the negative impact of the crisis on their operations and stakeholders, which invariably helps to maintain trust, credibility and restore their reputation. Based on an interpretivist standpoint, the study utilizes qualitative approaches and takes the form of a case study. It offers a comprehensive account of the crisis, including key occurrences, media representation, and public responses, showcasing its international impact via …